Work patterns are changing – people want to work from home and in the office – so are workplace tools. That’s why companies like Cisco are launching new hardware and software specifically designed for hybrid work. On Thursday, Cisco officially launched the new Webex Room Bar as well as the new Cisco video phone.
The Room Bar is designed for video conferencing in the workplace – especially for small to mid-sized spaces such as “group spaces” or smaller meeting rooms. It uses Webex AI capabilities for optimal audio and video conferencing, ensuring everyone in the room is well-shaped and automatically canceling out background noise. It has an ultra HD camera, built-in mic array, extended secondary mic, speaker tracking, and dual stereo. You don’t have to use Webex to make your calls with the Room Bar – it’s compatible with third-party programs like Zoom and Microsoft Teams.
Cisco is launching the Room Bar after learning how much workers dislike making video calls at work with just a laptop. The company conducted a study with Dimensional Research, which found that 95% of workers get tired of watching videos and are interested in seeing important technologies change in the workplace. Users of Webex’s collaboration devices reported 30% less frustration than those using only laptops.
The Webex Room Bar available starting at $3,795 Cisco Recommended Resale Price (CSRP).
Meanwhile, the new Cisco Video Phone 8875 is designed to ensure that office “hot desking” people experience high-quality video and audio during calls. Since the device’s sole focus is on communication, it doesn’t compete for battery life or other laptop resources.
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When users sit down at a table with a video phone, they can use a QR code to log into their Webex account for calls and meetings. The device uses AI to reduce background noise and has a screen resolution of 1080p.
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The Cisco Video Phone 8875 will be available to order starting in August.
Cisco is also improving its cloud calling product, Webex Calling, so that users don’t have to worry about call interruptions even during network connectivity issues or broadband issues. Companies using Webex calling will be able to deploy website viability through the Webex Control Center to ensure they can make and receive Public Switched Telephone Network calls ( PSTN) when the network is down.
Webex Calling is also adding AI-powered ambient noise cancellation technology to PSTN calls with outside callers. That means users will be able to remove background noise from external callers with a single click in the Webex App or on supported devices.
